Two arrested for transporting 55 illegal aliens inside hidden compartment in produce trailer

McALLEN, Texas - Two men, one an illegal alien himself, have been charged with human smuggling, announced U.S. Attorney Nicholas J. Ganjei.

Brandon Lajohn Hargrove, 43, Houston, and Jose Luis Castellanos-Hercules, 21, an illegal alien from Honduras, allegedly transported nearly six dozen illegal aliens from Mission to Zapata in a box truck.

Both have made their initial appearances and are set for detention hearings Sept. 25 at 1 p.m. before U.S. Magistrate Judge Scott Hacker.

The criminal complaint alleges authorities stopped a box truck near San Ygnacio on Sept. 19 with Hargrove as the driver. He allegedly claimed he was hauling boxes and opened the back to show the produce.

However, law enforcement observed Castellanos-Hercules in the trailer and conducted a more thorough search, according to the charges. The complaint further alleges they discovered a hidden compartment which held 55 illegal aliens, all from Guatemala, Mexico, Venezuela, Honduras, El Salvador, China, India, Colombia and Ecuador. Three were allegedly younger than 17.

According to court documents, the aliens had to crawl through a small door in order to get out from behind the false wall. The charges allege multiple heavy pallets blocked the access door and prevented them from being able to leave on their own.

Hargrove allegedly picked up the aliens from a stash house in Mission that authorities had previously identified as being utilized for smuggling activity.

"The Southern District of Texas takes a zero-tolerance policy towards illegal immigration, including those who transport or otherwise enable alien smuggling," said Ganjei. "Our message on this point has been consistent and clear: smuggling is a dangerous and often deadly business, and one should neither engage in human smuggling nor seek smuggling services. People overseas would be well-advised to stay home and stay safe."

If convicted, both face a maximum of 10 years in federal prison and a $250,000 maximum possible fine.

Several of the illegal aliens in the truck are also facing charges of illegal entry and illegal reentry.

Border Patrol conducted the investigation. Assistant U.S. Attorney Devin V. Walker is prosecuting the case.

This case is part of Operation Take Back America, a nationwide initiative that marshals the full resources of the Department of Justice to repel the invasion of illegal immigration, achieve the total elimination of cartels and transnational criminal organizations and protect our communities from the perpetrators of violent crime. Operation Take Back America streamlines efforts and resources from the Department's Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Forces and Project Safe Neighborhood.

A criminal complaint is a formal accusation of criminal conduct, not evidence. A defendant is presumed innocent unless convicted through due process of law.